SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:55 P.M. ET:

MORE CONFIRMATION – Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta became the latest administration official to say that the Libya attack was a premeditated terrorist act.  Panetta and Hillary Clinton are clearly trying to distance themselves from the fantasy that this attack, which occurred by some strange coincidence on September 11th, was a reaction to some YouTube video that was posted four months ago.  The scandal surrounding the administration's handling of the attack is growing, but you'd never know it by the mainstream media.  And the American people, incredibly, seem uninterested.

OUR WAY – Interesting week in New York.  On one day the president of Iran called for the extermination of Israel, and on another day a so-called "art work" showing Jesus in human urine was put on display in mid-Manhattan.  And you know what?  No one rioted.  No embassy was attacked.  No one was dragged dead through the streets.  Maybe some of the UN bigwigs who are in town for the General Assembly barbecue will take note of the way a civilized democracy handles obnoxious speech.

CURIOSITY – Our Mars rover, Curiosity, has sent back pictures of a bedrock that suggests the existence of a fast-moving ancient stream, possibly waist-deep.  This is considered a major scientific discovery.  We can only hope that the EPA doesn't move in and bar any further exploration, fearing that our rovers might scare any existing fossils.

THE DEBATE – According to Politico, top Republicans say that Mitt Romney will take a hard line in his first debate with Obama Monday night.  As long as he's reasonably respectful, that's a good idea.  People are too easy on Obama, but Obama never returns the courtesy.  He goes for the jugular.  It's time for some jugular hunting from our side.  Romney must do something to get his campaign moving again, and I think he can.  It was a debate that allowed Reagan to break through in 1980.

September 27, 2012